His Word Today: Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, born circa 23 October 1491 in the Basque region of present-day Spain.  After spending some time at court and as a soldier, he experienced a call to follow Jesus.  Having been injured in battle, he was convalescing when he asked for books of fiction and tales of knight-errantry, however none were to be found.  Instead, he was presented with a book describing the life of Christ and another containing the lives of the saints.  As he read these over and over, he began to be attracted to the stories and reflected on them.  Eventually, the practice of reading these texts, combined with that of reading about worldly things led him to ponder all of them.  While he considered worldly things, he would often be excited, but this excitement would pass, while his fascination with the life of Christ and with that of the Saints continued to fill him with joy.  This discipline eventually developed into a refined method of discernment that is still known as the Discernment of Spirits.

The gospel passage chosen for this liturgical Memorial places us with Jesus and the crowds that were following him.  At a certain point, he said to them: If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:26).  This translation is somewhat challenging, for Jesus never wished us to hate anyone.  However, in the light of the experience encountered by Saint Ignatius, we might consider the relationships we currently have with our fathers and mothers, our wives and children, our brothers and sisters, and even ourselves.  Are we truly happy with these, or is there something that we need to change in order to make them better?

It takes great courage to make changes, but sometimes these are necessary so that we can work at strengthening the relationships we have with others, and with God.  If we want to follow Him, if we want to learn from him, we need to ask for the grace to discern the truth of the situations we are facing.  Only then will we be able to make wise and prudent decisions.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Peter Chrysologus

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Peter Chrysologus (circa 380 to circa 450 AD).  The name Chrysologus means golden worded.  Saint Peter was the Bishop of Ravenna (Italy) from about the year 433 until his death.  He is known as the Doctor of Homilies because of the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time as Shepherd of Ravenna.

An example of his teachings appears in the Office of Readings (part of the Liturgy of the Hours) for this day.  Speaking about the incarnation of Christ, he says:

A virgin conceived, bore a son, and yet remained a virgin.  This is no common occurrence, but a sign; there is no reason here, but rather God's power, for he is the cause, and not nature.  It is a special event, not shared by others; it is divine, not human.  Christ's birth was not necessity, but an expression of omnipotence, a sacrament of piety for the redemption of men.  He who made man without generation from pure clay made man again and was born from a pure body.  The hand that assumed clay to make our flesh deigned to assume a body for our salvation ... (Sermon 148, PL 52, 596-598).

These rich images provide food for our thought and prayer.  May Saint Peter continue to inspire those who seek to share the Word of God, so that this living Word may always awaken a desire within us to know God more closely.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Martha

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Martha.  Martha is described in the gospels of Luke and John as the sister of Mary and Lazarus.  Saint Luke says that when Jesus entered the village ... a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him (Lk 10:38).  Based on this description of hospitality, Saint Martha has been associated with the images of maturity, strength, common sense and concern for others.

Inspired by the example of Saint Martha, Jesus disciples have striven through the centuries to be people of service, ready to welcome strangers and to extend hospitality to them as though they were Christ himself.  As we do, we must also constantly fuel our eagerness to extend exuberant welcome with a willingness to sit at the Master's feet (cf Lk 10:39).  If we do, he will constantly guide our words and actions, making us aware of those who are in need, and allowing us the privilege of welcoming guests and caring for them.

Today, let us ask the Lord to inspire a thirst in our hearts to extend hospitality to those we meet.  We may never know the ways that Jesus will show his face to us, and the opportunities he will afford us to serve him, even with the most simple of gestures.  Yet, even the most insignificant effort on our part might bring immense relief to another person's soul.

Have a great day.

Ask

Who among us has not been strolling through the aisles in the grocery store only to come upon a young mother pushing a child in her grocery cart and witnessed the child asking insistently for one item or another?  Perhaps we have seen this scene in a restaurant where parents seem to be doing all they can not to appear frazzled while the children seated around them constantly cry out about one concern or another.  Do you feel sorry for the parents or for the children?  Do you remember a time when you too experienced such moments with your own children or grandchildren?

When a child is still young and innocent, requests of this sort are simple; they can be persistent and are not always timely, but they are made with complete earnestness and trust: they ask for love, they ask for drinks, they ask for food, they ask for protection, they even ask for play.  And they ask over and over again.

The first reading for this Mass presents Abraham who stands before the Lord and asks the same question over and over again (cf Gn 18:23-32), as though he might be a child asking his parent for a treat.  If Abraham could pray with such insistence, why is it that we somehow think that we cannot or should not ask in this way for the things we need?

Sometimes, we need to be reminded that we are also children, God's children.  We have a loving and generous Father who is waiting for us to ask, and he welcomes our persistence too.  Like parents who dream of the day when their children will grow up, our God looks forward to the day when we will come to him with our questions, our doubts and fears, our joys and our successes.  In the gospel passage today, Jesus taught his disciples to pray with simple words (cf Lk 11:1-4).  Let us never be afraid to speak these words in our own prayer, over and over again.  Our God loves us and wants to provide for us.  He has made us alive together with him (Col 2:13).  He wants us to be happy, he wants us to ask persistently, he wants us to live forever with him in heaven.

His Word Today: Saints Joachim and Anne

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Virgin Mary.  They are not mentioned in the gospels but our knowledge of them comes from the oral tradition of the early Church.  They are mentioned in a writing known as the Gospel of James: a transcript which is from the second century A.D. which was never included among the writings of the New Testament.  According to this writing, Mary was promised to Joachim and Anne by an angel.  As a child, she was consecrated to God and remained a virgin all her life.

Veneration of the parents of Mary has a special prominence in the Eastern Church - both Orthodox and Catholic.  They are especially seen as patron saints of holy marriages and holy families and grandparents.  Joachim and Anne serve as role models for husbands and wives, mothers and fathers and even grandparents.  We can strive to emulate them in their devotion to God and to Our Lady, Mary, the mother of our Lord, Jesus.

In the gospel chosen for the memorial of these holy grandparents, Jesus says to his disciples: Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear ... many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see ... and to hear what you hear (Mt 13:16-17).  Let us ask Saint Joachim and Anne to be close to us today.  May they who had the privilege of saying yes to God's word help us to do the same so that we too can see and hear with faith today and joyfully give thanks to God for all that we have received.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint James the Greater

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint James the Apostle, the patron saint of Spain.  His mortal remains are housed in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella, in the region of Galacia.

The gospel passage for today's Eucharistic celebration shows us the heart of Jesus' understanding of authority.  The mother of James and John misunderstood his interpretation of this teaching.  Like many of her time, she perceived leadership as a majestic reward, rather than Jesus' new-found concept of authority that is born out of service.  In fact, he explained to the apostles: whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant (Mt 20:26).

This image might seem simple at first, but the more we strive to implement it, the more we will discover how challenging it truly is.  It is not impossible though; it begins with a simple prayer whispered in hope: Dear God, where do you need me to be today and what do you need me to do?

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Seeking

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage begins by describing the scene: Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea (Mt 13:1).  We are not told at what time of the day this happened.  It could have been early in the morning, just as the sun was rising, or it could have been in the evening hours.  Regardless of the time of day, the important thing is that Jesus went to the seashore.  The constant roar of the waves was - and is - a wonderful place for meditation.  Like an undulating heartbeat, it soon lulls the listener into a trance of sorts, one that somehow helps us to rest in prayer.

We cannot be sure that this was Jesus' intent, but on other occasions, the scripture writer tells us that Jesus had a routine of pausing in prayer, therefore it would not have been unusual for him to seek out such a place for meditation that day.  As was the case on many other occasions, he crowds came in search of him, seeking knowledge and teachings, and as he did on most occasions, Jesus responded to their request with no apparent concern for his own need (cf Mt 13:3-9).

The days of summer can provide us with an opportunity to ask ourselves how often we take time to sit in the presence of the Lord.  Do we seek out such occasions on a regular basis, pausing in prayer so that we can remain connected to the One who loves us and wants to be with us?  If we do, our God will most certainly fill us with the gifts we need in order to respond joyfully to the needs of his people.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Discipleship

Good morning everyone,

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was first and foremost a disciple.  In fact, we refer to her as the first of the disciples since she was the first to hear the angel's description of who her divine son was, and she was the first to say yes to following his will.

The gospel passage for today also proposes another of the lessons in discipleship that this remarkable woman was invited to learn.  In turn, we too must open our hearts to the lesson contained here.  Jesus was speaking to the crowds on a particular day, presumably teaching them about the kingdom, when his mother and brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him (Mt 12:46).  It is interesting to note that this passage begins with Mary and others wanting to speak with Jesus.  They had a prayer to offer, much as we might approach our prayer, but in this case, it was not human prayer that was most important, but rather the divine word: Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister and mother (Mt 12:50).

How often do we come to Jesus intent on presenting our prayer?  In the beginning, we are the ones who want to speak with God, but as prayer becomes more and more a part of our daily routine, we will discover that the words we hear in the silence of prayer are far more important than any word that we ourselves might utter.  Words heard in the depth of the heart continually offer lessons: they teach us how to discover the will of our heavenly Father, and they invite us to say yes to following his will.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Mary Magdalene

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene, one of the greatest saints spoken of in the bible and a legendary example of God's mercy and grace.

The scriptures speak of her as one of a number of women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases who accompanied Jesus as he travelled from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God (Lk 8:1-2).  She was one of the women who stood near the cross of Jesus and witnessed his crucifixion, along with his mother, his mother's sister, and Mary the wife of Clopas (Jn 19:25) and she is perhaps most fondly remembered as the first to go to the empty tomb, early in the morning on the first day of the week.  In fear and disbelief, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple ... and said: 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!' (Jn 20:1-2).  For this reason, Mary Magdalene is known as the disciple (the one who was sent) to the apostles.

The writer of the gospel of John also speaks of another moment at which she received a vision of angels who helped her to strengthen her faith.  Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.  As she wept, she bent over and looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there ... where the body of Jesus had been.  They said to her: 'Why are you weeping ... who are you looking for?' (Jn 20:10-15).  Any of us who have experienced the death of a loved one can understand Mary's grief.  Like her, there is a part of us that sits and weeps over the memory of the one who is no longer visible to us, but this was not the end of the story for Mary Magdalene, and it is not the end of the story for us either.  Like her, we too must bend over and look again.  When we do, the Lord will make his angels known to us, the ones who are sent to help us.  They will gently invite us to tell our own story, and then they will help us to realize the truth that like the risen Jesus, our loved ones are no longer here.  Instead, they are at peace, restored to wholeness in a glorified state, reunited with our God.

May Mary Magdalene intercede for all those who are seeking answers, especially those who have experienced the grief of being parted from someone they love through physical death.  May she help us also to look to Jesus and to open our hearts so that we too can be assured that the risen Lord is present in our midst, and that our loved ones are at peace.

Have a great day.

Lessons in hospitality

When I have the chance, I like to cook a meal, welcome friends and spend time sitting around a table exchanging stories.  Over the years that have come and gone since my Ordination, I have actually managed to assemble a few sets of dishes.  I still like to take the time to set the table - whenever I can - and to make a fuss about creating the right atmosphere for such stories to be told.  In fact, such special occasions are always treasured but I find that as time has gone on, such stories get told no matter whether we are sitting down to an elaborate meal served on expensive dishes or to a simple picnic served on paper plates.

The tradition of welcoming strangers and friends around a dinner table is deeply engrained in the history of humanity, and this is a very good thing.  In the first reading for today's liturgy, we see Abraham involving his entire household in hurried preparations in order to serve unexpected guests (cf Gn 18:1-10).  In the gospel, we find Martha rushing around, and her sister Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.  When Martha asks Jesus to insist that Mary should help her with the preparations for the meal, his response is a surprise to her: not at all what she had hoped for (cf Lk 10:39-42).

Saint Luke does not tell us how Martha responded to Jesus' words.  We can choose to hear them spoken not as a rebuke, but rather as a tender invitation to come closer, to live life more deeply and to love more richly.  Each of us can make a conscious choice to focus on Jesus Christ.  If we do, we will experience the world around us in light of that choice, and tomorrow, we can choose once again to make Him the central focus of all that we do, and soon enough we will find that we in turn are sharing the word of God with those we encounter (cf Col 1:25).

His Word Today: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Good morning everyone,

Do you stop every once in a while simply to recognize how blessed you are?  Do you ever simply marvel at the grace that has been shared with you?  Recognizing the goodness that has been shown us will always help us to look at life differently.

As Jesus was travelling from town to town, he spoke harshly about the ways in which those he encountered turned a blind eye, or a hard heart to the goodness that was in their very midst.  To hear him say it: Woe to you ... for if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done elsewhere, they would long ago have relented (Mt 11:21).

As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel today, let us ask our heavenly mother to help us be particularly aware of the goodness that we have received, in the form of blessings of so many kinds ... and let us ask her also to help us to recognize and appreciate the beauty of our faith, the treasure with which we have been entrusted.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Authentic

Good morning everyone,

We can perhaps envision the scene portrayed in today's gospel passage (Mt 10:34 - 11:1) as one of the initial moments during which Jesus was getting to know his disciples, and during which they were beginning to create their first impressions about who he was and what his ideas might have been for engaging in the work of spreading the good news of God to others.

Jesus speaks of a series of characteristics which are sought in those who might be hoping to have the chance to follow him; in fact, these are parameters within which all disciples must strive to live. Each phrase begins with the words whoever loves someone or something more than me is not worthy of me (Mt 10:37-39).

In some cases, this first impression may have scared off some potential disciples, but having been put to the test, every authentic follower of Jesus will use these words as a kind of test to validate our desire to follow Him.  Try it and see:  each time you might be tempted to follow another path that threatens to draw you away from Jesus, ask yourself: do I love this person, or am I enticed by this thing ... or this possibility?  Will it bring me life and true happiness in a way that is better than what I have already been promised by knowing Jesus?

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Shrewd

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel passage, Jesus warns his disciples that they should be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves (Mt 10:16).  Jesus knew that not everyone who hears his words will be willing to welcome them.  In fact, he knew that the disciples would be handed over to the courts and scourged in the synagogues (Mt 10:17).

On the surface, any human being would be afraid to go about spreading the good news that they had learned from Jesus, especially if the consequence was that we would meet with certain suffering, however, the good news that Jesus brings is meant to shed light, to call people out of the shadows, and many people are either not ready, or not willing to do so.

We need to be shrewd about how we share the light of the gospel.  We must be willing to think beyond the parameters of those who challenge us.  If we have to struggle in order to speak the gospel, Jesus is reassuring us that we are on the right track.  The gospel has always, and will always be meant to comfort those who have been disturbed by life's trials, and at the same time, to disturb those who have grown too complacent with their own status in life.  If this means that the one who heralds the Lord's coming by proclaiming the gospel (a word which means good news), will be persecuted then so be it.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Benedict of Nursia

Good morning everyone,

From the time of the first disciples until today, the Lord continues to invite all those who seek to follow him to take no gold, silver or copper in our belts, no sack for the journey, no second tunic, no sandals ... (Mt 10:9-10) nothing except for what we truly need.

These words are just as challenging today as they were when they were first spoken.  It is never easy for us to separate us from the things that the rest of the world continually attempts to convince us are necessary for our happiness, yet it is precisely at the moment when we begin to leave all the baggage behind us that we truly begin to understand the great gift that Jesus was proposing for each and every one of us: unburdened by the things of this world, we are more easily able to journey with him, to hear his words and to put them into practice.

We have a wonderful example of this virtue of self-abandonment in the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547 AD), whose feast day we observe today.  He was the first to recognize the importance of community life as a means of support for the life of monks.  At the heart of his vocation was a call to renounce everything that would have distracted him from focusing on God.  In the end, his commitment to seeking peace through a balanced approach to prayer, work and hospitality allowed him to focus on the importance of very simple but essential realities.

What are the extra things that we have accumulated - sometimes without even realizing it?  Which of these things are not absolutely necessary for us to be happy?  If we had to leave them behind, could we? ... all so that we can focus more clearly on the Lord's call to follow him.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Authority

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage begins with the words: Jesus summoned his ... disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits (Mt 10:1).  Even if they had spent quite some time with Jesus, even if they had heard his words on many occasions, even if they had come to believe them, were they ready for the day when he gave them such authority?

Jesus knew that the disciples needed to be encouraged, so even as he sent them out, he had to give them directions about what they were to do: Go ... to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ... and say to them: the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 10:6-7).

Even today, Jesus sends us - his modern-day disciples - with the same instructions.  We are the ones he instructs every day to go out in search of the lost, the lonely, the ignored, the little ones ... so that we can truly understand their hunger, their thirst, and their desire to know that no one is alone.  The truth is that like the first disciples, we ourselves are loved infinitely, we ourselves once were lost but have been found, we ourselves have been invited to hear the words: the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Moved

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel passage (Mt 9:32-38) we see Jesus at work.  Motivated by the fact that his heart was moved with pity (Mt 9:36).  Being moved with pity, he was able to open his merciful heart to restore speech to a man who had been mute (cf Mt 9:32-33), to teaching and proclaiming the gospel ... and to curing every disease and illness (cf Mt 9:35).

Jesus' merciful heart is always open to us.  He is constantly seeking out those who are lost.  If we are truly open to him, he will show us how to bring others to him, especially those who are in need of his help (cf Mt 9:32), and all we have to do is to stand in amazement at the abundance of his mercy.

He knew very well that he would need each one of us to help him with the task of demonstrating his compassion to others, especially to those whose hearts may have grown cold or been hardened by the trials of life.  Even though we may be abundantly aware of the truth of Jesus' words: the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few (Jn 9:37), we should never tire of imploring the gift of allowing our hearts to be moved.  In this way, we will be more and more aware of the harvest that needs to be identified, reaped and enjoyed.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Determination

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel passage (Mt 9:18-26), there is evidence of a person who for many years had stayed below the radar.  There must have been some major crowds in the place where Jesus was speaking, and yet, despite the fact that no one had probably paid any attention to this woman, she managed to make her way closer and closer to Jesus.

Matthew tells us some of the details of this woman's struggle (cf Mt 9:20-21), but it is evident that none of these details were known to Jesus.  Despite this truth, at the moment when he managed to touch the tassel on his cloak - the outer garment that he was wearing - he recognized her presence and she was healed.

Have we ourselves known the powerlessness of having our voices silenced?  Do we know what it means to struggle to get close to Jesus?  Perhaps if this is true, we are more keenly aware of the struggles that some of our brothers and sisters must face on a daily basis.  Today, let us pray for the grace of determination, so that like that un-named woman, we too can come close to Jesus, be recognized by him and rewarded for our efforts.

Have a great day.

News worth reporting

Have you ever noticed that the secular media tends to sensationalize everything?  In the society of instant access, we are bombarded with the latest developments in all kinds of news, and yet it seems that more often than not, it is only the bad news that we hear: tragedies, earthquakes, fire, destruction, suffering ... the list goes on.  Yet there is so seldom any reference to good news, the kind of news that would make us happy, the kind of news that might make our hearts sing.

In contrast to the secular media, the gospel passages are filled with good news.  In today's first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of a God who is calling all people to rejoice with Jerusalem and to be glad because of her (Is 66:10).  Long before Isaiah came upon the scene, the Israelite people knew that they were a chosen people, but over time, they had begun to loose their focus.  They had started forgetting the promises made by our God, and where doubt had entered, they were becoming wayward.  Isaiah reminded them that the Lord's promises were not empty.  In fact, the Lord's promises are enduring.  Therefore, even when they heard nothing but discouraging news, God's people have always been able to turn to Him and to be reassured, for our God constantly says to us: I will spread prosperity ... like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent (Is 66:12).

We need to hear these words every day, for they speak of great hopefulness, and our world is so much in need of hope.  Jesus knew that the people of his time needed hope as well.  That is why our Father in heaven sent him to live among us in the first place.  In time, he shared the gift of hope with his disciples and with the crowds who would gather to listen to his preaching.  Then, when he felt as though they were ready for the task of sharing the gift of hope with others, the Lord appointed seventy-two of them whom he sent ahead of him in pairs (Lk 10:1).  Against the overwhelming influence of the world's pessimism, these chosen ones were sent to various places in order to proclaim God's peace (cf Lk 10:5), to cure the sick and to proclaim the good news of the kingdom (cf Lk 10:9).

Ever since the time of those first apostles, which is to say, the seventy-two who were sent out in pairs, many others have also been sent out into the harvest.  Among the first to be sent out were the disciples.  In the second reading that we heard today, Saint Paul reminds the early Christians at Galacia that for him, there was no more important task than to boast ... in the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14) for although the cross had been perceived as an instrument of torture, Christ changed all that in the Pascal mystery.

The task entrusted to the disciples has also been entrusted to us.  We who have come to believe that Jesus died on a cross, and then rose again, must never tire of sharing this good news with the world, and it is up to us to find ways of sharing this good news.  When others would rather speak of calamities, we must choose to speak of hope.  When others try to entice us to look forlornly at the world around us, we must point to the cross and remind them that it is no longer an instrument of torture, but rather a symbol of triumph.

His Word Today: Mercy

Good morning everyone,

In today's gospel passage, Jesus meets Levi - Matthew - the tax collector, and invites him: Follow me (Mt 9:9).  In fact, the gospel says that Jesus saw a man named Matthew but how are we to understand the word saw?  Jesus sees us in a much different fashion than we see others.  Jesus sees not the exterior, the realm of physical beauty, but rather he sees us in our entirety, including our souls, the innermost parts of our beings.  Jesus sees all that we are, and he knows all that we are capable of becoming, and he loves it all.

Jesus saw in Matthew a man who was doing a job but one who knew that he could do better.  How often have we known - at some level within us - that we can do better?  Sometimes it takes a bit of encouragement for us to believe in ourselves, and this is exactly what Jesus does: he believes in us.  Jesus knows us at the level of the heart: at the level that is often unknown to any other human being.  This is the reason why he came to Matthew's defence when the Pharisees tried to interrogate him (cf Mt 9:11).

The invitation Jesus issued to the Pharisees that day is also extended to us, and to all those who need to grow in our ability to see others as he does.  We all need to learn the meaning of the words: I desire mercy ... (Mt 9:13).  Today, let us ask for the grace to grow in our understanding of these words, beginning with the ways in which Jesus has spoken these words in our own lives.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Awe

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel account describes a moment when bystanders were struck with awe.  Jesus had returned to his own town and there he encountered people of faith (cf Mt 9:2).  Perhaps Jesus was well known to them, perhaps they had watched him grow up, and yet when the encountered him as an adult they were struck with awe.

No matter how well we may think we know God, no matter how familiar we may think we are with the ways of God, our God is constantly at work, finding new and wonder-filled ways to inspire awe within us.  He did this by curing a paralytic, and even forgiving his sins (cf Mk 9:3) ... and he did this by inspiring that suffering man to walk again (Mt 9:6-7).

Jesus worked wonders in his own town and he continues to work such wonders in our midst as well.  The great things he did in Nazareth filled everyone with awe, so why should they not do the same for us.  If we have not forgotten or misplaced the ability to stand in awe and wonder before the greatness of God, perhaps we can also ask Him to reveal himself to us; then we too can be struck with awe.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Inquiring

Good morning everyone,

There is a level at which we might all feel threatened by those who dare to ask questions.  When we have been entrusted with a position of responsibility, one that calls for decision making, we might feel threatened - for instance - by those who dare to question the authenticity of the decisions we make.

Questioning authenticity was the issue at hand for Thomas, one of the twelve who was otherwise occupied on the evening when the risen Jesus appeared to the rest of his friends.  Rather than having the reassurance of encountering the risen Lord, Thomas was left in his grief, and his response to the proclamation made by the other disciples demonstrates this to be true: Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe (Jn 20:25).

If we have found ourselves walking in Thomas' shoes, perhaps we understand what it was like to feel excluded from the experience that the other disciples had when the risen Jesus appeared to them.  If we have experienced others who question our decisions, perhaps we can understand the fragility in which the disciples found themselves during those initial days following the resurrection, but if we have heard the Lord speaking to us as he spoke to Thomas: doubt no more, but believe (Jn 20:27), then we can rejoice, for we have a certain understanding of the way Jesus calls us to grow in our faith.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Calm

Good morning everyone,

Have you ever had the great fortune to watch someone else who is sleeping?  If you have, perhaps you know how peaceful such a sight can be.  In that very moment, it seems as though that slumbering person has not a care in the world, and we might even venture to say that he or she seems to be at peace.

The thought of serenity was probably far from the minds of the disciples on that day when, together in the boat, they experienced a violent storm ... up on the sea (Mt 8:24), but in the midst of their panic, Jesus was asleep.  Was he sleeping peacefully?  I'm sure that the disciples were anything but calm when they woke him, saying: Lord, save us! (Mt 8:25), yet we can imagine that Jesus was very relaxed, even sure of himself when he asked: Why are you terrified ... oh you of little faith (Mt 8:26).

Do we ever experience such moments of fear?  Do we come looking for Jesus at such moments?  Do we call out to him ... and how does he respond to our calls?  Does he meet our frantic cries with his own words, calm, measured and reassuring?  Does he speak with an authority that can only come from one who is indeed in control, or one who knows what it means to trust implicitly?  Let us ask him who is capable of rebuking the seas to help us to trust more implicitly in him.  Let us ask him to teach us to trust, so that we too can know the deep abiding calm that comes from such implicit trust.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Mission

Good morning everyone, and Happy Canada Day.

Today, Canadians are celebrating Canada Day and giving thanks for the gift of our country.  At times such as these, some of us look back at the years that have passed and the accomplishments that have been achieved.  Others choose to celebrate the present and still others look forward with vision to the future that is yet to be realized.

Jesus gives us reason to look forward in hope and to consider the mission that we are all called to fulfill.  Every Christian has been given the great gift of experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus.  Based on our experience of encountering Him, we are then invited to set out upon the mission of sharing our experience of encounter with those we meet, and of encouraging them to encounter Jesus as well.

Some of us may be eager to set out upon this mission.  The gospel passage for today says that at least one of those Jesus met along the way responded to his invitation with enthusiasm: ... I will follow you wherever you go (Mt 8:19) but Jesus does not promise that this mission will involve personal comforts.  Rather, there is an urgent need to set out.  We cannot afford to delay our engagement, even if it might mean that we are to fulfill a noble task like burying our own family members (cf Mt 8:20).  Instead, we must set out on the mission and welcome the Lord's invitation to share the good news we have experienced with all those we meet.

Have a great day.